OPA elects new Management Committee for 2024 /2025 at AGM

The Management Committee of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) was elected for the year 2024 /2025 at its recent Annual General Meeting held at the OPA Auditorium.

Milinda Moragoda invited to speak at ‘India’s Ideas Conclave 2024’

The India Foundation, has invited Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation to speak at its 8th annual ‘India’s Ideas Conclave’, which will take place from the 22nd to the 24th November in Bangalore Karnataka. The theme of the conference will be ‘Building Brand Bharat: Imagining India’s Decade’.

Teachers arrested for allegedly assaulting girl to death

Two lady teachers of St.Martin De Porres Maha Vidyalaya in Wennappuwa were arrested in connection with the death of a schoolgirl whom they are alleged to have severely assaulted, The 16 year old victim a Grade ten student of the school was due to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level next year, She had been under treatment for about three months before she died yesterday.

AKD secures 70.7% of the seats in P’ment leaving opposition splintered: M.M.Zuhair

Amidst universal praise for the unprecedented confidence bestowed by the people of Sri Lanka on the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) at the recently concluded national General election, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s party, having won 61.56% of the valid votes, has secured a massive 70.7% of the seats in Parliament, thanks also to the 21 bonus seats, leaving the parliamentary opposition splintered into a dozen groups sharing 29.3 % of the rema

Ballot boxes to counting centres

Ballot boxes are being carried to the counting centres yesterday evening.

Senior Vedda leader denied polling access over traditional hand axe

A senior leader of the Vedda community in Dambana, Gunbandiya Ettho and his family chose not to cast their votes after they were denied entry into the polling booth because he was carrying a traditional hand axe.

Complaint against election officer

A voter in Polpitiya area in Ginigathena has complained against an officer on duty at Minuwandeniya polling booth that he marked the vote to a different political party and not the one she wanted to vote for.

Transporting voters illegally to Mullaitivu, cash distributed

Three buses transporting voters illegally from Norochcholai to Mullaitivu were seized and the crew of the buses were arrested by Norochcholai Police during a raid at Alankudawa area. The drivers and their helpers in custody were between 25 and 45 years of age and residents of Ethukala, Kalpitiya and Mampuriya areas.

Despite heavy rain...

A ballot box is being carried in a polythene bag in the midst of heavy rain in the Gampaha District yesterday.

11 Indian fishermen who are repeat offenders sentenced to two years

Twelve more Indian fishermen were arrested and remanded until November 20, 2024 by the Point Pedro Magistrate Court recently, an informed source said.

Strong p’ment sufficient; two-third led to enactment of laws detrimental to people: President

Claiming that a two-third majority was used by political forces to enact laws detrimental to the people, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday the government was expecting only a strong parliament.

Gowri Rajan honoured with the Global Trailblazer Award at the WIM Global Awards in Malaysia

Leading female business personality Gowri Rajan, was awarded the ‘Global Trailblazer Award’ by WIM global at the Women Top 50 Professional & Career Woman Awards 2024 held in Malayasia recently.

US rescinds security alert on Arugam Bay

The United States yesterday lifted the security alert on the Arugam Bay area, following close collaboration with the Sri Lankan side and the immediate and extensive security measures put in place by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and related agencies, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Sri Lankans Seeking Israeli Jobs Fall Victim to Fraud and Embezzlement Scams- SLBFE

Over 3000 complaints have been made alleging that employment agents charged exorbitant fees for non- existent job opportunities in Israel and South Korea, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Young voters petition Supreme Court: Seek fresh nominations for LG Polls

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court, seeking an order to prevent the Election Commission from holding the Local Authority Election without calling for fresh nominations.

Use of maize in ethanol production leads to egg and poultry price hike – AIEPA

The use of maize in large quantities for the local ethanol production in the liquor industry has led to a severe price hike in egg and poultry products, as pointed out by the All Island Egg Producers Association (AIEPA) yesterday.

Sierra Leone passenger who swallowed Rs.40Mn worth cocaine busted at BIA

A Sierra Leone passenger attempting to enter the country by swallowing 59 pellets containing cocaine worth over Rs.40 million was arrested by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Polling booths relocated

Elections Department has taken steps to relocate eight polling stations in the Ratnapura electorate in view of the Katina ceremonies to be held at several temples selected earlier for polling stations.

PSA candidate and husband linked to Rs. 1 Mn robbery from a doctor released; four remanded

A doctor identified four suspects in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (12) in connection with the incident where he was intimidated and robbed of one million and fifteen thousand rupees at a massage centre in Bambalapitiya.

New Govt. to review Pavithra’s gazette on Wedithalathive Nature Reserve

The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the new government intends to review the Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by former Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, which altered the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve to facilitate an aquaculture project.

Drama within a drama: Stage play ‘Garu Kathanayaka Thumani’ creates drama

The stage play ‘Garu Kathanayaka Thumeni’ which was to be staged in Colombo found itself in a controversy when a candidate who was contesting the General Election lodged a complaint against staging it.

SLMC leader Hakeem launches his books in Kandy

Rauff Hakeem, Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, launched the volumes of his books ‘Voice of Reason,’ in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages, at the D.S. Senanayake Convention Hall, Kandy, on Saturday (9). He has delivered these speeches during 30 years in Parliament.

Sri Lankan with forged passport arrested at BIA

A Sri Lankan who attempted to enter the country on a forged Sri Lankan passport was arrested by the Immigration and Emigration Officers at Katunayake International Airport last morning.

Two women smuggling Rs.11.7Mn worth counterfeit cigarettes nabbed at BIA

Two local females, a businesswoman and her daughter attempting to smuggle a large stock of counterfeit cigarettes worth over Rs.11.7 million from Dubai were nabbed by the Police at the Bandaranaike International Airport during the weekend.

Egg prices plummet as surplus floods market amidst unstable demand

According to Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), as of 1-7th November prices of both brown and white eggs have decreased by 8% and their prices ranged from Rs.36.00-40.00/egg and Rs.34.00-37.00/egg respectively.

Defence Secretary leads field study at Deegawapiya Stupa restoration project

Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), the Defence Secretary as the Author of the Deegawapiya Aruna Trust and First Trustee, engaged in a field study tour at the historic Deegawapiya Stupa premises at Ampara on Saturday to review the progress of Stupa Restoration Project, according to the Defence Ministry.

No campaigning allowed from midnight today

The election campaigning activities for Thursday’s General Election are scheduled to end at midnight today.

Girl abducted - temple burgled to cover expenses

A young man who abducted a 14 year old schoolgirl who was in love with him and burgled the temple’s shrine room to find money for their journey and other expenses was arrested by Lunugamvehera police and handed over to Hingurukaduwa police.

Defence Secretary reviews security situation in Arugam Bay

The Defence Secretary visited the Eastern Province yesterday (Nov 10) to assess the security situation in the Arugam Bay area.

Indian trawlers have field day in northern sea, number of poaching boats exceed 500 daily

The number of Indian trawl boats poaching in Sri Lanka’s northern sea has averaged well above 500 a day with local fishermen are not even venturing out for fishing on selected days, an official said.